US3676902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring loaded hinge
Assignee: Gillette Co LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A pair of members hingedly connected together for relative rotation about an axis, one of the members including a stud extending outwardly therefrom generally coaxially with the axis, the other member defining a socket for receiving the stud, and the stud and socket being so sized and shaped that relative rotation of the two in one direction produces forces tending to cause relative rotation in the opposite direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:19
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D8/00; A45D8/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/20; Y10T24/202; Y10T24/203; Y10T24/204; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44291; Y10T24/44376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
In a hair clip comprising first and second members, each of said members including a gripping portion and a hinge portion, said hinge portions being connected to provide relative rotation of said members about an axis between a first position wherein said gripping portions are in engagement and a second position wherein said gripping portions are spaced apart, said hinge portion of said first member including a pair of studs extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof generally coaxially with each other and said axis, and said hinge portion of said second member defining a pair of spaced sockets, each of said sockets being adapted for receiving one of said studs, that improvement wherein: said first and second members are of resilient organic plastic; each of said studs has a first dimension and a second dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said second dimension being measured along a line generally perpendicular to the line along which said first dimension is measured and being less than said first dimension; each of said sockets has an open portion forming a throat having a width extending generally perpendicular to said axis and a first dimension measured in a line perpendicular to said axis and along a line generally parallel to the width of said throat, said first dimension of said socket being less than said first dimension of said stud and not substantially less than said second dimension of said stud; the angle of divergence between the lines along which said first dimension of each of said sockets and said second dimension of the one of said studs associated therewith is not less than 5* when said members are in said first position whereby said studs and sockets urge said gripping portions toward each other with a positive force in said first position; and, rotation of said studs relative to said sockets in a direction so as to move said gripping portions toward said second position and increase said angle of divergence causes portions of said second member defining said sockets to exert on said studs force tending to rotate sAid studs relative to said sockets in a direction so as to decrease said angle and move said gripping portions toward said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
374 words
In a hair clip comprising first and second members, each of said members including a gripping portion and a hinge portion, said hinge portions being connected to provide relative rotation of said members about an axis between a first position wherein said gripping portions are in engagement and a second position wherein said gripping portions are spaced apart, said hinge portion of said first member including a pair of studs extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof generally coaxially with each other and said axis, and said hinge portion of said second member defining a pair of spaced sockets, each of said sockets being adapted for receiving one of said studs, that improvement wherein: said first and second members are of resilient organic plastic; each of said studs has a first dimension and a second dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said second dimension being measured along a line generally perpendicular to the line along which said first dimension is measured and being less than said first dimension; each of said sockets has an open portion forming a throat having a width extending generally perpendicular to said axis and a first dimension measured in a line perpendicular to said axis and along a line generally parallel to the width of said throat, said first dimension of said socket being less than said first dimension of said stud and not substantially less than said second dimension of said stud; the angle of divergence between the lines along which said first dimension of each of said sockets and said second dimension of the one of said studs associated therewith is not less than 5* when said members are in said first position whereby said studs and sockets urge said gripping portions toward each other with a positive force in said first position; and, rotation of said studs relative to said sockets in a direction so as to move said gripping portions toward said second position and increase said angle of divergence causes portions of said second member defining said sockets to exert on said studs force tending to rotate sAid studs relative to said sockets in a direction so as to decrease said angle and move said gripping portions toward said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The hair clip of claim 1 wherein said studs are symmetrical about a line extending generally parallel to the line along which said first dimensions thereof are measured and said sockets are symmetrical about a line extending generally perpendicularly to the line along which said first dimensions thereof are measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hair clip of claim 2 wherein said lines of symmetry of said studs form acute angles with said lines of symmetry of said sockets when said gripping portions are in said first positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The hair clip of claim 2 wherein the periphery of each of said studs is at least in part defined by portions of cylinders of different radius having parallel, spaced axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The hair clip of claim 4 wherein the periphery of each of said sockets is at least in part defined by a portion of a cylindrical surface and planar surfaces tangential to said cylindrical surface and inclined relative to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hair clip of claim 5 wherein said second member defines a relief slot extending outwardly from the portion of each of said sockets opposite the throat thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hair clip of claim 6 wherein each of said sockets is defined by an upstanding lug and each of said lugs defines an opening extending upwardly from said relief slot through the full height of said each lug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein when said gripping portions are in said second positions said members are in contact only at said studs and said sockets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
309 words
In a device including a pair of members, each of said members including a gripping portion and a hinge portion, said hinge portions being hingedly connected together for relative rotation about an axis, said hinge portion of one of said members including a stud extending outwardly therefrom generally coaxially with said axis and said hinge portion of the other of said members defining a socket for receiving said stud, that improvement wherein: said stud has a first dimension and a second dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said second dimension being measured along a line generally perpendicular to the line along which said first dimension is measured and being less than said first dimension; said socket has a first dimension measured along a line perpendicular to said axis, said first dimension of said socket being less than said first dimension of said stud and not substantially less than said second dimension of said stud, and said stud fitting snugly within said socket with the lines along which said first dimension of said socket and said second dimension of said stud are measured in substantially parallel alignment; one of the portions of said one member defining said stud and the portions of said other member defining said socket are of resilient organic plastic; the surfaces of said socket engaging said stud are non-convex; and, relative rotation of said members about said axis from a first position in which said gripping portions engage each other and the angle of divergence between the lines along which said socket first dimension and said stud second dimension are measured is not less than 5* toward a second position in which said gripping portions are spaced causes said socket to bear against said stud and exert thereon a force tending to rotate said members so as to decrease said angle of divergence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
309 words
In a device including a pair of members, each of said members including a gripping portion and a hinge portion, said hinge portions being hingedly connected together for relative rotation about an axis, said hinge portion of one of said members including a stud extending outwardly therefrom generally coaxially with said axis and said hinge portion of the other of said members defining a socket for receiving said stud, that improvement wherein: said stud has a first dimension and a second dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said second dimension being measured along a line generally perpendicular to the line along which said first dimension is measured and being less than said first dimension; said socket has a first dimension measured along a line perpendicular to said axis, said first dimension of said socket being less than said first dimension of said stud and not substantially less than said second dimension of said stud, and said stud fitting snugly within said socket with the lines along which said first dimension of said socket and said second dimension of said stud are measured in substantially parallel alignment; one of the portions of said one member defining said stud and the portions of said other member defining said socket are of resilient organic plastic; the surfaces of said socket engaging said stud are non-convex; and, relative rotation of said members about said axis from a first position in which said gripping portions engage each other and the angle of divergence between the lines along which said socket first dimension and said stud second dimension are measured is not less than 5* toward a second position in which said gripping portions are spaced causes said socket to bear against said stud and exert thereon a force tending to rotate said members so as to decrease said angle of divergence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 9 wherein both of said portions are of resilient organic plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said one member includes a pair of substantially identical studs extending generally coaxially outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof and said other member defines a pair of substantially identical spaced sockets, each of said sockets being adapted for receiving one of said studs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 11 wherein each of said studs is symmetrical about a line extending parallEl to the line along which said first dimensions thereof are measured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the periphery of each of said studs is in part defined by portions of cylinders having parallel, spaced axes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said cylinders are of different radii.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 11 wherein each of said sockets is symmetrical about a line extending perpendicular to the lines along which said first dimensions thereof are measured.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the periphery of each of said sockets is in part defined by a portion of a cylindrical surface and relatively inclined planar surfaces extending tangentially from said cylindrical surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 15 wherein each of said sockets has an open portion forming a throat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said members are in contact only at said studs and sockets when said gripping portions are in said second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |